Brighton homeless charity marks World Mental Health Day with new premises

Brighton Housing Trust opened new premises for two of its essential mental health services yesterday (Monday 10 October) on World Mental Health Day.

BHT paid for the premises with help from a grant of £393,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.

Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, and Lisa Rodrigues, chief executive of the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, spoke at the opening.

The new premises will house the Threshold women’s counseling and crèche service and the Route One project.

BHT said that Threshold drop-in sessions enable women to call in informally for support, information and signposting.

They also offer opportunities to try different activities and complementary therapies with a focus on wellbeing, relaxation and stress management.

All Threshold services provide a space for women to share their experiences, feel less isolated and support one another in their lives.

Early parenting peer support group sessions are also available.

Route One provides supported accommodation for 53 men and women with mental health difficulties.

Dr Lucas described relaunching the services as an honour and said that she hoped they would continue to be “a benchmark for best practice alongside BHT’s other services”.

Ms Rodrigues said that the occasion highlighted the importance of the NHS working in partnership with third sector organisations.

The cash injection of £393,000 came from the Big Lottery’s Reaching Communities Fund.

It meant that the services could relocate to a bigger space overlooking Churchill Square.

The funding secured the future of Threshold and meant that it could increase the availability of its crèche with bigger capacity, improved facilities and accessibility.